US7349737B2 - Adjustment of the atrial sensitivity and of the atrial stimulation energy in an active implantable medical device such as double chamber cardiac pacemaker - Google Patents
Adjustment of the atrial sensitivity and of the atrial stimulation energy in an active implantable medical device such as double chamber cardiac pacemaker Download PDFInfo
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- US7349737B2 US7349737B2 US10645329 US64532903A US7349737B2 US 7349737 B2 US7349737 B2 US 7349737B2 US 10645329 US10645329 US 10645329 US 64532903 A US64532903 A US 64532903A US 7349737 B2 US7349737 B2 US 7349737B2
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
- A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
- A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
- A61N1/362—Heart stimulators
- A61N1/37—Monitoring; Protecting
- A61N1/371—Capture, i.e. successful stimulation
- A61N1/3712—Auto-capture, i.e. automatic adjustment of the stimulation threshold
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
- A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
- A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
- A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
- A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
- A61N1/362—Heart stimulators
- A61N1/37—Monitoring; Protecting
- A61N1/371—Capture, i.e. successful stimulation
- A61N1/3712—Auto-capture, i.e. automatic adjustment of the stimulation threshold
- A61N1/3714—Atrial capture
Abstract
Description
This application is related to copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,326 filed concurrently herewith in the name of Amel Amblard and entitled Adjustment of the Atrial Sensitivity in an Active Implantable Medical Device Such As a Cardiac Pacemaker.
The present invention relates to active implantable medical devices as such devices are defined by the Jun. 20, 1990 directive 90/385/CEE of the Council of the European Communities, more particularly to devices such as cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiovertors, and/or multisite devices that are able to deliver to the heart low energy stimulation pulses for the treatment of disorders of the heartbeat rate. The present invention relates more particularly to such devices that include circuits for double chamber stimulation, and even more particularly to such devices that are capable of an automatic operating mode switching (also called “automatic mode commutation” or “AMC”), for example, as are described in EP-A-0 488 904 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,594, and EP-A-1 048 322 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,105 B1, all assigned commonly herewith to ELA Médical, Montrouge France.
The quality of the detection of spontaneous cardiac signals and the quality of the capture of a stimulated cardiac event are essential to the effectiveness of the various analysis and control algorithms that are integrated into the implanted devices. Parameters are available for this purpose to allow the doctor to adjust the sensitivity of detection of spontaneous activity and the stimulation energy level necessary to stimulate a cardiac contraction (i.e., a capture) as best as possible. Nevertheless, the optimal values are likely to evolve according to clinical and/or mechanical circumstances (e.g., a micro-displacement of the cardiac probe that monitors cardiac activity and/or delivers the stimulation energy pulses or the effect of drugs), these variations being able to be paroxystic or permanent.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to resolve these difficulties while improving the operation of the known devices.
More precisely, it is an object of the invention to improve the auto-adjustment of the sensitivity and the stimulation energy values, suitable to avoid inopportune and useless mis-adjustments of these parameters.
Broadly, the present invention concerns improved apparatus and signal processing methods that detect situations of atrial under-detection and loss of atrial capture, to be able to ensure the correct operation of the various algorithms operating the device.
One aspect of the invention is directed to a device that is equipped with an automatic mode commutation operation, in which the detection and correction of the defects of atrial capture or atrial under-detection are employed to avoid an inappropriate switch out of operating in a conventional DDD operating mode. This avoids unnecessarily stimulating the ventricle, and thus mitigates the possible noxious effects, from the hemodynamic point of view, of delivering such an inappropriate therapy.
The type of device to which the invention applies is a preferably double chamber device as described, for example, in the EP-A-0 488 904 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,594 mentioned above, i.e., including, for example, circuits of a conventional design that are able to detect spontaneous atrial and ventricular events, able to deliver ventricular and atrial stimulation pulses, and a means for suspecting a loss of atrial detection and/or a loss of atrial capture, said suspecting means operating by an analysis of a sequence of detected ventricular and atrial stimulations and detections.
In a manner characteristic of the invention, the means for suspecting the loss of atrial detection and/or atrial capture are able to detect one or more, and preferably each, of the following conditions: (1) an absence of ventricular activity post-atrial stimulation, (2) a lengthening, beyond a given limit, of the atrio-ventricular conduction delay over a predetermined number of successive cardiac cycles, (3) an occurrence of an atrial detection consecutive to an atrial stimulation over a predetermined number of successive cardiac cycles, (4) a detection of a ventricular extrasystole, (5) a reduction, below a given limit, of the delay between an atrial stimulation and a ventricular detection, and (6) a passage of an atrial detection to an atrial stimulation with concomitant reduction, below a given limit, of the delay between the atrial event and the ventricular detection.
Advantageously, the suspecting means also is able to deliver an atrial counter-stimulation of relatively increased energy, in the event of an absence of ventricular activity post-atrial stimulation. This delivery may actually occur indirectly, that is, by controlling the appropriate stimulation circuit to deliver a stimulation pulse at the desired energy level as the counter-stimulation pulse.
Preferably, the suspecting means can similarly deliver an increase in the atrial stimulation energy, relative to an initial stimulation energy value, over the following cycles in the event of an absence of ventricular activity post atrial stimulation, and can restore the stimulation energy to its initial stimulation energy value in the event of a persistence of the lengthening of the atrio-ventricular conduction delay. In this case, the suspecting means can advantageously operate a readjustment at periodic intervals, to lower the stimulation energy level in the event of a disappearance of the lengthening of the atrio-ventricular conduction delay, and inhibit this readjustment in the event of an increase in the stimulation energy over a predetermined number of the consecutive periodic intervals.
Preferably, the suspecting means also can deliver an increase in the atrial stimulation energy, relative to an initial stimulation energy value, over the following cycles in the event of an atrial detection consecutive to an atrial stimulation over a predetermined number of successive cardiac cycles, and restore the stimulation energy to its initial stimulation energy value in the event of persistence of this detection. In this case, the suspecting means can advantageously operate a readjustment at periodic intervals, to lower the stimulation energy level value in the event of a disappearance of atrial detection consecutive to an atrial stimulation over a predetermined number of successive cardiac cycles, and inhibit this readjustment in the event of increase in the energy of stimulation energy over a predetermined number of the consecutive periodic intervals. The lowering may be done in stepwise decrements until the energy level returns to its initial stimulation energy level.
In addition, the suspecting means are advantageously able to control an increase in the sensitivity of atrial detection circuits, relative to an initial value, and to restore the atrial sensitivity to its initial value in the event of a return to an atrial stimulation inducing a nonpathological delay between atrial stimulation and ventricular detection.
Further benefits, features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, made with in reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
With reference to
Preliminarily, the following definitions are used in the following description.
- Detection P: sensing of a spontaneous activity having its origin in the atrium A (
FIG. 6 ); it will be considered that there is indeed a detection P if an atrial detection is not followed in a given delay, for example, 31 ms, by a ventricular detection (otherwise, one would be in a situation of “ventricular far-field” detection, i.e., a sensing via the atrium of a remote depolarization coming from the ventricle). - Detection R: sensing of a spontaneous activity having its origin in the ventricle V (
FIG. 6 ). - Stimulation A: stimulation delivered in the atrium.
- Stimulation V: stimulation delivered in the ventricle.
- Atrial event: either detection P or stimulation A.
- Ventricular event: either detection R or stimulation V.
- Cardiac cycle: a delay separating two events of comparable nature in the same cavity, for example, separating two detections P, or two stimulations A.
- PP average: an average interval of the atrial rate/rhythm, calculated, for example, over eight cardiac cycles not including an extrasystole.
- Escape Interval (EI): the time interval, counted after a detection or a stimulation in a given cavity, following which a stimulation is delivered to the given cavity if no spontaneous event was detected in this given cavity. For the atrium, it is known as the atrial escape interval (AEI).
- Atrial Extrasystole (AES): an atrial detection occurring inside the post-atrial atrial refractory period (PAARP), the calculation of this PAARP being that of the standard type DDD pacemaker.
- Ventricular extrasystole (VES): a ventricular detection preceded by a ventricular detection or stimulation, with a coupling interval (R-R interval or V-R interval) less than or equal to a parametrable (i.e., a parameterized, programmable) value of the PP average, for example a value less than or equal to 75% of the PP average.
For further details on the detection and the treatment of the extrasystoles, one will be able to refer to the EP-A-0 550 342 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,451 commonly assigned herewith to Ela Médical, which describes an algorithm for the detection and treatment of the VES by an asynchronous stimulation of the atrium and a controlled stimulation of the ventricle, which description is incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with a preferred implementation of the invention employing an implanted device having a standard dual chamber cardiac pacing functionality, a certain number of functions, if they are present, are maintained just as they normally are. Thus, the algorithms for cardiac stimulation, the algorithm for “fallback” of the cardiac rate, and for prevention of electronic tachycardias (also referred to as PMT or Pacemaker-Mediated Tachycardia), and the algorithms that make it possible to calculate and apply PAARP periods and for protection against a retrograde conduction in the event of suspicion of VES are used in their known and conventional manners.
One now will discuss a way in which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device includes the suspecting means manages the losses of atrial capture (or the atrio-ventricular blocks (AVB)), and those for which it manages the losses of atrial detection.
The management of the loss of capture is discussed with reference to the illustrated situations
First, it applies an atrial counter-stimulation, provided that this function is activated by the physician (the delay separating the counter-stimulation from the preceding atrial stimulation being a programmable interval).
Next, the energy of the following atrial stimulation, or of the counter-stimulation, is increased. The value or level of energy applied is programmable and can be either the maximum energy permitted by the device, or an energy corresponding to a step (i.e., a programmable value) above the current energy. For example, it may be desirable in certain circumstances to use the maximum energy level, e.g., in the case of a counter-stimulation.
Two possibilities arise then: On the one hand, if the spontaneous ventricular activity (detection R) is restored (the lower chronogram of
On the other hand, (the upper chronogram of
The Second Case of management of atrial loss of capture corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of
If the atrial activity is systematically a stimulated activity (Stimulation A), the device initially suspect a loss of atrial capture. In this case, the energy of the following stimulation is increased, with the parameterized value (maximum energy or an energy corresponding to a step above the current energy). Then, if the normal atrio-ventricular conduction delay is restored (the upper chronogram of
In the contrary case the lower chronogram of
In the case that a lengthening of the atrio-ventricular conduction delay also is observed after an atrial detection, the device then can suspect the beginning an AVB and, at the end of N4 cycles, start an AVD, which continues during N2 successive cycles or until the occurrence of a nonextrasystolic detection R.
The Third Case of management of atrial loss of capture corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of
The device also has a functionality that enables it to restore the initial stimulation energy in the event of a temporary increase. In this regard, periodically, e.g., every 24 hours, the stimulation energy is lowered by a step. The step is preferably a programmable value and may be the same as the step increment, or not. Nevertheless, if an increase in energy occurs during 3 consecutive days, this “reversibility” is inhibited.
One now will describe the manner in which the device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention manages a loss of atrial detection with reference to the illustrated chronograms of
The First Case of management of loss of atrial detection, illustrated in
The Second Case of management of atrial loss of detection corresponds to the situation illustrated on the chronogram of
A Third Case of management of loss of atrial detection is that of the passage of a detection P to a stimulation A if the A-R delay is less than the P-R delay by a programmable duration (for example, 63 ms); the device suspect then also a loss of detection, and increases the sensitivity at the following cycle.
In the same manner as discussed for the stimulation energy, periodically, e.g., every 24 hours, the device decreases the sensitivity (by raising the detection threshold) to allow a return to the initial value. Nevertheless, if an increase in the sensitivity occurs during consecutive 3 days, this reversibility also is inhibited.
Suitable devices for which the present invention has application include, for example, the Talent™ and Symphony™, Rhapsody™ brand pacemakers and the Alto™ brand of defibrillators available from Ela Médical, Montrouge France. With reference also to
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, and the parameters provided with respect to numbers of cycles and time intervals are merely representative examples, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.
Claims (30)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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FR0210458 | 2002-08-21 | ||
FR0210458A FR2843698A1 (en) | 2002-08-21 | 2002-08-21 | Implanted heart stimulator has means for detecting low level/failure of auricular capture and then adjusting auricular sensitivity and stimulation energy to ensure the proper working of algorithms |
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US20040102817A1 true US20040102817A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 |
US7349737B2 true US7349737B2 (en) | 2008-03-25 |
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US10645329 Active 2024-09-29 US7349737B2 (en) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-08-21 | Adjustment of the atrial sensitivity and of the atrial stimulation energy in an active implantable medical device such as double chamber cardiac pacemaker |
US10645326 Active 2024-07-05 US7483745B2 (en) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-08-21 | Adjustment of the atrial sensitivity in an active implantable medical device such as cardiac pacemaker |
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US10645326 Active 2024-07-05 US7483745B2 (en) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-08-21 | Adjustment of the atrial sensitivity in an active implantable medical device such as cardiac pacemaker |
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US (2) | US7349737B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1407800B1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE60319483D1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2843698A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100125309A1 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-05-20 | Ela Medical S.A.S. | Atrial Capture Test for An Active Implantable Medical Device |
Citations (7)
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US5312451A (en) | 1991-12-31 | 1994-05-17 | Ela Medical | Apparatus and methods for controlling a cardiac pacemaker in the event of a ventricular extrasystole |
US5318594A (en) | 1990-11-30 | 1994-06-07 | Ela Medical | DDD type cardiac pacemaker having automatic operating mode switching |
US5476486A (en) * | 1994-03-04 | 1995-12-19 | Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. | Automatic atrial pacing pulse threshold determination utilizing an external programmer and a V-sense electrode |
US5601615A (en) * | 1994-08-16 | 1997-02-11 | Medtronic, Inc. | Atrial and ventricular capture detection and threshold-seeking pacemaker |
US6339723B1 (en) | 2000-01-20 | 2002-01-15 | Pacesetter, Inc. | Method and apparatus for preventing atrial fusion during automatic pacing threshold determination in a cardiac stimulation device |
US6389316B1 (en) * | 2000-01-11 | 2002-05-14 | Pacesetter, Inc. | System and method for automatic atrial capture detection and atrial pacing threshold determination |
US6397105B1 (en) | 1999-04-26 | 2002-05-28 | Ela Medical, S.A. | Active implantable medical device having a sophisticated automatic DDD/AAI mode switching |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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FR2669830B1 (en) | 1990-11-30 | 1993-02-12 | Ela Medical Sa | Method for controlling a pacemaker ddd type is switching mode. |
US6129745A (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-10-10 | Medtronic, Inc. | Medical device for automatic diagnosis of undersensing by timing |
US6195584B1 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2001-02-27 | Medtronic, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining atrial lead dislocation |
US6418343B1 (en) * | 1999-10-01 | 2002-07-09 | Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. | Method and apparatus for adjusting the sensing threshold of a cardiac rhythm management device |
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5318594A (en) | 1990-11-30 | 1994-06-07 | Ela Medical | DDD type cardiac pacemaker having automatic operating mode switching |
US5312451A (en) | 1991-12-31 | 1994-05-17 | Ela Medical | Apparatus and methods for controlling a cardiac pacemaker in the event of a ventricular extrasystole |
EP0550342B1 (en) | 1991-12-31 | 1997-06-18 | ELA MEDICAL (Société anonyme) | Controlling a pacemaker in case of extra-systoles |
US5476486A (en) * | 1994-03-04 | 1995-12-19 | Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. | Automatic atrial pacing pulse threshold determination utilizing an external programmer and a V-sense electrode |
US5601615A (en) * | 1994-08-16 | 1997-02-11 | Medtronic, Inc. | Atrial and ventricular capture detection and threshold-seeking pacemaker |
US6397105B1 (en) | 1999-04-26 | 2002-05-28 | Ela Medical, S.A. | Active implantable medical device having a sophisticated automatic DDD/AAI mode switching |
US6389316B1 (en) * | 2000-01-11 | 2002-05-14 | Pacesetter, Inc. | System and method for automatic atrial capture detection and atrial pacing threshold determination |
US6339723B1 (en) | 2000-01-20 | 2002-01-15 | Pacesetter, Inc. | Method and apparatus for preventing atrial fusion during automatic pacing threshold determination in a cardiac stimulation device |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100125309A1 (en) * | 2008-11-19 | 2010-05-20 | Ela Medical S.A.S. | Atrial Capture Test for An Active Implantable Medical Device |
US8214036B2 (en) | 2008-11-19 | 2012-07-03 | Sorin Crm S.A.S. | Atrial capture test for an active implantable medical device |
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Publication number | Publication date | Type |
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EP1407800A1 (en) | 2004-04-14 | application |
FR2843698A1 (en) | 2004-02-27 | application |
DE60319483D1 (en) | 2008-04-17 | grant |
US7483745B2 (en) | 2009-01-27 | grant |
EP1407800B1 (en) | 2008-03-05 | grant |
DE60319483T2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | grant |
US20040102817A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 | application |
US20040122480A1 (en) | 2004-06-24 | application |
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